High School Football

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The Vikings won their third consecutive game in the area’s most passionate and visible rivalry, using three touchdown passes by Marvin Zanders and getting seven sacks from their defense to pull away in the second half for a 40-25 win over Ribault. Raines leads the series 32-12.

Playoff talk was one of the topics of the Northwest Classic — Raines in Class 4A, Ribault in 5A — but perhaps even bigger conversation than that was the future, rather the locale, of the rivalry.

How much longer will the teams continue to play on campus? The game was held for years at what is now EverBank Field before stadium cost increases and the Jaguars’ arrival pushed the series back to the schools. Could it potentially return downtown?

It’s a relevant question considering the crowds seem to get bigger and bigger by the year. While there was no official attendance number Saturday, the figure announced to the crowd was 13,700.

“It’s growing too big [to stay on campus],” Raines coach Deran Wiley said. “This is a game people are driving hundreds of miles to see, people are flying in for this game. The atmosphere, all the families, you’ve got all the [previously graduated] classes here. I just don’t know if you have the room.”

Ribault coach Anthony Flynn said he’d hate to lose the atmosphere that the game creates in the community, but he thinks a bigger stage may benefit the players more.

“The only reason I’d want it moved is the exposure for the kids,” he said. “For them to experience playing in a place like that [EverBank].”

Raines (8-2) wasn’t perfect — four turnovers led to 17 Ribault points — but it had a perfect game plan.

Put as much pressure on Trojans quarterback D.J. Gillins and disguise the packages to look different every time. That meant constant blitzing from the ends and sending linebackers in from the middle. That allowed Raines to bring its corners up to press the Trojans receivers, making downfield pass attempts difficult.

“I feel like we’re No. 1 in the city, No. 1 in the nation, I think our defense is that good,” said Raines defensive lineman Jermaine Oliver, who had two sacks.

No better example of how that worked for Raines throughout the game came with the Trojans (7-3), down 33-25 with just over 3 minutes left, facing a third-and-2 from their own 28. Gillins (17 of 29 for 77 yards, touchdown) went through his reads one by one, feigned a throw and backed off before seeing a receiver down the Ribault sideline. Defensive back Lamont Simmons was up enough in coverage and got a hand on the ball and knocked down what would have been a huge gain. The Vikings sacked Gillins on the next play, their fourth of the half. Four plays later, Raines receiver Qwan Hill picked up Zanders’ fumble and went 10 yards into the end zone for the final margin. Raines held Ribault to minus-15 yards on the ground.

“D.J. Gillins is a heck of a quarterback, but today he couldn’t figure out where we were coming from,” said Zanders, who finished 11 of 19 for 219 yards, and added 92 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

“Our defensive line is amazing, those guys just make great plays. They picked me up from all of those turnovers. I need to go buy these guys lunch or something.”

Ribault scored 17 of its 25 points off Raines turnovers, including a pick-six by Keion Westmoreland, the first of Zanders’ three interceptions as the Trojans jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead.

Over a four-minute stretch between the third and fourth quarters, Zanders had two touchdown passes, a 39-yard screen to Alex Gardner and a 21-yard touchdown pass to Keiron Scott in the back of the end zone, and a 4-yard rushing touchdown.